MANILA, Philippines—Now on display at Bonifacio High Street in Taguig City: An open air exhibit featuring Japan’s “Art Island” which also shows how nature’s splendor can complement manmade art.

The pictures were taken by renowned photographer Jun de Leon during a visit to the Japanese island of Naoshima, also known as “Art Island,” for its museums housing the work of famed painters like the French impressionist Claude Monet.

What makes the island unique is that one can find art works inside and outside the numerous museums in the area, with nature serving as their backdrop.

Titled “Road to Naoshima,” the exhibit which opened last month will run until Jan. 15.

The pictures were shot by de Leon using the Sony Ericsson C905, the latest Cybershot model which features an 8.1 megapixel camera.

“We wanted to showcase the size and detail of the images,” explained Patrick Larraga, Sony marketing manager, in an interview after the unveiling of the exhibit.

He added that the photos measuring 47 by 35 inches were printed on an industrial type of film used for large outdoor display to highlight the clarity of the images. The pictures are encased in glass frames to protect them from the elements.

Naoshima is a small island about 500 miles south of the Japanese capital of Tokyo.

Larrañaga said De Leon chose Naoshima as his subject because he admired the works of acclaimed Japanese architect Tadao Ando.

Ando designed several museums on the island, including Benesse House. Artists who come to the island are encouraged to create their own masterpiece which will remain on permanent exhibit on Naoshima.

During his visit to Art Island, De Leon took pictures of the different art works on display in the area.

The photographs, he said, showed his “varying emotions” while on Naoshima.

“If I am the last man on earth, I would still probably be shooting,” De Leon said in an e-mail to the Inquirer, referring to his passion for photography.